Nationwide - confused!

The_Duchess_3

Have seen numerous posts stating that the only BR friendly banks are CO-OP and Barclays.
I have a Nationwide account and went in to see them today to enquire if I would be able to keep my account with them even though I have just gone BR (believe if you don't ask you don't get) I was told by the lady that as long as the OR has no interest in the account that the account would be downgraded, but that I would be able to carry on using it!!

Is she talking out her bum??? don't want to get excited about keeping my account if she is wrong or am I very lucky with the bank in my area???

Many thanks

Ineedaname

From reading others' experiences I would say you have a 50/50 chance of the account remaining open. The trouble is that what staff believe and what the computer system says may be two different things.

Good luck and let us know how you get on with it.

BUT, personally I'd open an alternative with either Barclays or Co-op just in case, then at least you're ready to go if needs be.

dojoman

I had a current account with them, but it was closed by them a couple of months in to my BR. They used to be BR friendly but changed their stance a couple of years ago. If you can open either a Cashminder or Barclays basic account I would definitely do it, nothing worse than having your cash in an account that you cannot get in to.

wildheart83

Echoing what the others have said, I'd open an account elsewhere, and if you find that your account stays open then you can use whichever one you want. There's no harm in having more than one account just in case.

I was told my A & L account would be closed within 24 hours of the bank being notified of my BR, 15 months later and my account is still open so you might be lucky and have your account kept open.

debtinfo

The reason we recommend co-op and barclays is that they ar very consistant in their approach so given the same set of circumstances it is fairly easy to say that they will or wont give you an account, whilst others may give you an account they are very hit and miss which is why on a national forum like this it is hard to recommend them

sonic55_2

Probably worth trying to retain your account, but just in case, I'd look to open a co-op or barclays account.

Angiepange

The_Duchess wrote: »

Have seen numerous posts stating that the only BR friendly banks are CO-OP and Barclays.
I have a Nationwide account and went in to see them today to enquire if I would be able to keep my account with them even though I have just gone BR (believe if you don't ask you don't get) I was told by the lady that as long as the OR has no interest in the account that the account would be downgraded, but that I would be able to carry on using it!!

Is she talking out her bum??? don't want to get excited about keeping my account if she is wrong or am I very lucky with the bank in my area???

Many thanks

We were allowed to keep our Nationwide account when we went BR.

They sent us a letter about 3 weeks after we went BR saying that the Insolvency Service had no objection to us continuing use of the account, so Nationwide would be keeping it open and downgrading it from a full flex account to a cashcard + account.

We still opened aCco Op cashminder Account pre BR anyway, but out of the 2 accounts I definitely prefer the Nationwide one because its online banking updates instantly and I have been able to use the cashcard+ as a debit card everywhere with no problems.

Nationwides Insolvency team can be contacted on 01604 854830. I found them v helpful.

Hope you can keep it, good luck.